Hospitals Jointly Host Great Saves on Ice, Along With Missouri Mavericks

Centerpoint Medical Center and Lee’s Summit Medical Center—along with community partners, The Missouri Mavericks and Silverstein Eye Centers Arena—will honor and reunite First Responders with five patients whose lives were saved due to quick and courageous actions. This annual event recognizes EMS heroes for their contributions to the care of each patient and reunites them for the purpose of extending a collective community thank you. This year, The Missouri Mavericks join the Great Saves On Ice in recognizing these community heroes who make great “saves” each and every day.

“Both Centerpoint Medical Center and Lee’s Summit Medical Center have the privilege of working every day with Kansas City’s First Responders who represent some of the most skilled professionals and most compassionate hearts in healthcare,” he says. “Their work in helping patients is nothing short of heroic. And to receive the support from a great community partner like The Missouri Mavericks is fantastic.”

Missouri Mavericks

Cunningham was wearing her seatbelt on Feb. 26, 2016 when her car was t-boned by a full-size truck traveling over 50 mph. First Responders arrived and performed an extrication that took more than 20 minutes; once removed from her totaled vehicle, Cunningham was only minimally responsive and had significant injury to her left arm. She was transported via ambulance to Centerpoint Medical Center where she experienced a seizure in the Emergency Room, requiring intubation to protect her airway. Injuries sustained in the accident included a fracture/dislocation of her left hip, a left femur fracture, multiple pelvic fractures, multiple rib fractures, scapula fracture, small splenic laceration and displaced fracture of her elbow. Because of Cunningham’s extensive orthopedic injuries she required emergency surgery to reduce the fractures to her left hip and left elbow and a pin in her femur as a temporary measure. She went back into the operating room two days later for an additional surgery to repair her hip fracture and damaged nerves. Remaining in a coma, physicians determined Cunningham had also suffered a diffuse brain injury. Initially unable to follow commands even without sedation, she required a tracheostomy and feeding tube and extensive surgery and reconstruction of her left elbow, once she became more stable. Despite a potentially grim prognosis, Cunningham made great strides during her two weeks at Centerpoint Medical Center, including being virtually unresponsive initially to gradually mouthing words and communicating with her family. She transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Nebraska on March 11, 2016 where she underwent extensive rehabilitation in preparation for returning to school and—more importantly—walking at her high school prom. Cunningham credits First Responders and Centerpoint Medical Center physicians Dr. Matthew Carmichael, D.O., Emergency Room Physician, and Dr. Kelly James, M.D., Trauma Surgeon, among many others, with saving her life.

Hale was moving boxes and furniture at home on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 when he thought he pulled a shoulder muscle.

Sitting down to take a break, the pain traveled across his chest; Hale had suffered a heart attack and subsequent cardiac arrest. After losing consciousness, his mother called for help while Hale’s son pulled him to the floor to start CPR. Brandon’s mother administered one-handed chest compressions, as she was unable to use both arms, while Hale’s son attempted to open his airway. Within five minutes of being dispatched, Lee’s Summit Fire Department arrived and took over compressions and began life-saving measures. Hale received multiple shocks, many rounds of medication, and regained a pulse after 45 minutes of CPR. An EKG revealed that he was having a heart attack. Hale was found to have a 100 percent blockage in his left anterior descending artery. Within 71 minutes of arriving at Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Hale’s artery was opened. He continued his recovery at Lee’s Summit Medical Center in the ICU, med/tele, cardiac rehab and cardiology departments. Today Hale is doing well and is grateful for the First Responders and physicians who helped save his life. To Hale, spending time with his family is priceless.

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